Keynote speaker: Chris Forbes, CEO and co-founder of The Cheeky Panda and University of Greenwich alumnus

We're very pleased to announce that our first keynote speaker will be former student, Chris Forbes (Philosophy, 1997).

Chris is CEO and co-founder of The Cheeky Panda, a company that makes household, baby and beauty products out of bamboo and which is the UK's 8th most recognisable sustainable brand. Chris is committed to delivering change for good and inspiring others to become environmental entrepreneurs. He is passionate about building sustainable 21st century companies that have purpose over profit are still commercially viable entities.

Notable awards that Chris has received include:

• Entrepreneur of the Year 2018
• Ranked 13 in the UK's top 100 start-ups 2022
• Product of the Year 2020
• Entrepreneur for Good award 2022
• Meaningful Business Top 100

Further information about Chris Forbes can be found on his LinkedIn page.

Further information about The Cheeky Panda can be found on the company's Instagram pages.

---

Keynote speaker: Matthew Griffin, Futurist, Speaker and Author, Founder and CEO of the 311 Institute

We're delighted that our second keynote speaker is Matthew Griffin, futurist and founder and CEO of the 311 Institute.

Founded in 2006, the 311 Institute is a UK based global Futures and Deep Futures advisory working with the world’s most respected brands, governments, institutions, and investors to help them explore, envision, build, and shape the future of global business, culture, and society.

Explore some of the 311 Institute's resources on the organisation's website.

 

 

 

---

Opening address: Professor Jane Harrington, Vice-Chancellor

Professor Harrington joined the University of Greenwich as Vice-Chancellor in December 2019. She has worked in Higher Education for over 27 years and her specific interests include teaching excellence, the student experience, widening access into higher education and social mobility and improving partnership working across the business, community and university sectors. Before joining Greenwich, Jane was Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost at the University of the West of England, Bristol (UWE, Bristol) for five years and previously worked in senior roles within the university’s Faculty of Business and Law, including holding the role of PVC and Executive Dean. She played an integral part in improving UWE, Bristol’s performance in the National Student Survey and achieving Gold in the Teaching Excellence and Student Outcomes Framework in 2018. Jane is proud to have substantially increased all the key metrics across the university during her tenure and developed partnerships, including co-delivered programmes. Jane has held numerous external roles including chair of Cabot Learning Federation (a large multi academy trust), a director of 91 ways, a member of Bristol Women’s Commission, a member of the South West CBI, chair of the SW CMI, vice chair of CABS, executive sponsor EDI for London Higher,  and a member of TKAT.

 

 

 

---

Connecting with the Greenwich alumni community: Ask Alumni+: Minh Lam

Minh Lam explains how to find out about the Greenwich alumni community, the benefits you can look forward to once you have completed your studies and how you can connect with alumni now for careers guidance and support through Ask Alumni+.

 

 

 

 

 

 

---

Conference Co-Chair: Jabed, Greenwich Students' Union President

Jabed is a graduate of the BA International Business with Economics programme. 

I am an activist and constantly working to empower individuals and build communities. I am concerned about climate change and I am working to raise awareness around sustainability. Connecting scattered Bangladeshis students and creating a platform, working as Green Ambassador to make Greenwich green and as Outreach Ambassador for Department of Economics and International Business to encourage primary school students from disadvantage background to study at Greenwich make me #ProudToBeGRE!

 

 

 

 

---

Conference Co-Chair: Krishmi Karki, Greenwich Students' Union Officer

Krishmi is a graduate of the BA International Business programme.

My motto was 'Let the change begin, by you, from you, and for you'. Making a change motivated me to get involved in Greenwich Students' Union (GSU). The core principle of GSU is to help students to be come their best. I wanted to be a part of this change and assist students to shape their student life.

University of Greenwich students and staff may attend all sessions online via Microsoft Teams or in person at the Cooper Powerhouse building on our Maritime Greenwich campus. Guests may attend online.

Click here to register to attend the conference.

You may register to attend online at any time up to or during the conference. We look forward to seeing you there!

You can also read news and articles about the Student Conference on the University website.