Charlie Browne

Environmental Manager, IKEA UK

Charlie Browne has worked for IKEA UK for the last 14 years, initially working within the Risk and Health and Safety area before his interest in Environmental matters brought him into Environmental management for IKEA UK. Charlie has worked in the environmental field for 12 years focusing on renewable energy, waste management, Energy conservation and resource efficiency and green travel.

Part of the IKEA fundamental business model is the minimization of shipping costs and hence carbon emission by using efficient, flat packed products shipped in the most energy efficient methods available. Ikea's policy reflects the strictest emissions policies in countries across the world, even though it sometimes drives costs higher.

The IKEA Group and WWF co-operate in projects aimed at reducing carbon dioxide emissions generated by IKEA operations, in order to reduce its impact on climate change and IKEA invest upwards of $77,000,000 in green technology and companies.

Recent environmental achievements in IKEA UK include energy consumption reduction of 25%, the introduction of renewable energy technologies to stores and most recently the successful award of the Carbon Trust Standard which is awarded to organisations that are taking real action to reduce their direct impact on climate change.

Prior to IKEA, Charlie was a member of the Armed Forces and has worked in Security and Risk Management sector.

Natalie Bruckner-Menchelli

Senior Editor, SustainableShipping.com

Natalie Bruckner-Menchelli is Senior Editor for SustainableShipping.com. She has worked as a News Editor, Features Editor, reporter, and freelance journalist in print, broadcast, and online media for over 12 years for organisations including The British Broadcasting Corporation and Newsquest Media Group. Throughout her international career, she has been based at a number of offices, including the United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, the US, and now Canada.

With a keen interest in environmental issues, and academic experience in coastal management and alternative energy, she began specialising in environmental journalism in 2003. In 2007 she gained industry recognition for her reporting on the environment when she won Environmental Journalist of the Year, 2007 at the EDF Energy Media Awards.

Natalie has also been awarded Feature Writer of the Year three times by EDF Energy and BT Media Awards. Having joined Sustainable Shipping in May 2008, Natalie is responsible for ensuring that the editorial content of Sustainable Shipping continues to drive the agenda of shipping and the environment and provides readers with information that empowers them to make critical decisions in today's challenging climate.

Peter Hinchliffe OBE

Secretary General, International Chamber of Shipping & International Shipping Federation

Peter Hinchliffe was appointed as the Secretary General of the International Shipping Federation (ISF) and its sister organisation, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) in July 2010.

The combined membership of ICS and ISF comprises 36 national shipowners' associations and represents around 80% of the world's merchant tonnage. One of the principal roles of these organizations is to co-ordinate the representation of the international maritime industry at the International Maritime Organization, the International Labour Organization, and at other intergovernmental forums which impact on the interests and well-being of international shipping.

Peter had a first career in the British Royal Navy, including 5 years in seagoing command. He joined ICS and ISF in 2001 and for many years has led ICS representation on safety and environmental issues at the IMO. He is now very much enjoying the opportunity to broaden his engagement on shipping matters with employment and training aspects - that are the core issues for ISF - whilst still retaining close engagement in the traditional ICS areas.

Mike Penning

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport

The Prime Minister announced the appointment of Mike Penning, MP for Hemel Hempstead, as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport in 2010. Mr Penning was born in London and raised in Essex. After school he joined the British Army, serving in the Grenadier Guards, and subsequently worked as a firefighter before going into the family business. He later became a political journalist.In the 2001 General Election he contested the Thurrock seat for the Conservatives, and in 2005 entered Parliament as the MP for Hemel Hempstead. He is a dedicated family man, and is passionate about sport particularly Rugby Union and football.

Jacob Sterling

Head of Climate & Environment, Maersk Line

Jacob Sterling is the Head of Climate and Environment at Maersk Line, managing a team responsible for driving Maersk Line's environmental performance and delivering environmental targets. Reducing CO2 and Sulphur emissions are the main focus areas and the impact of shipping on the marine environment. By setting an good example, Maersk Line also aim to drive positive change and raise the regulatory bar in the broader shipping industry.

From 2002 - 2009, Jacob worked for WWF Denmark initially as Forest Policy Officer, and then leading the conservation department as Conservation Director before joining Maersk Line as General Manager, Sustainability in 2009.

Jacob received a Master of Science (M.Sc.) in biology at the University of Copenhagen, with a focus on biodiversity, ecology and environmental management. He is married with two children and lives in Denmark.

Dr Simon Walmsley

Marine Manager, WWF International

Dr Walmsley's area of expertise and responsibility at WWF covers shipping, oil tankers, marine legislation and bio-diversity. He graduated in 1988 with a degree in Environmental Biology specialising in salt marsh ecology/biomonitoring and microbial ecology before going on to do a PhD at Hull University in Marine Biomonitoring and Ecotoxicology, looking at biomonitoring tools such as indicator species and the genetics of pollutant tolerant populations. Simon has also carried out research followed with the British Antarctic Survey and at the Institute of Coastal and Estuarine Studies and worked as a Health and Safety consultant specialising in hazardous chemical assessments, before joining WWF in 1999.

Awards Host & Guest of Honor

Jonathon Porritt

Founder director of Forum for the Future and Chairman of the UK Sustainable Development Commission

Jonathon Porritt, is an eminent writer, broadcaster and commentator on sustainable development. Established in 1996, Forum for the Future is now the UK's leading sustainable development charity, with 70 staff and over 100 partner organisations, including some of the world's leading companies.

In addition, he is Co-Director of The Prince of Wales's Business and Sustainability Programme which runs Seminars for senior executives around the world. He is a Non-Executive Director of Wessex Water, and of Willmott Dixon Holdings. He is a Trustee of the Ashden Awards for Sustainable Energy, and is involved in the work of many NGOs and charities as Patron, Chair or Special Adviser.

He was formerly Director of Friends of the Earth (1984-90); co-chair of the Green Party (1980-83) of which he is still a member; chairman of UNED-UK (1993-96); chairman of Sustainability South West, the South West Round Table for Sustainable Development (1999-2001); a Trustee of WWF UK (1991-2005), a member of the Board of the South West Regional Development Agency (1999-2008).

He stood down as Chairman of the UK Sustainable Development Commission in July 2009 after nine years providing high-level advice to Government Ministers.

Jonathon received a CBE in January 2000 for services to environmental protection.

Yvo de Boer

Special Global Advisor, Climate Change and Sustainability, KPMG

Yvo de Boer joined KPMG in July 2010 as Special Global Advisor, Climate Change and Sustainability. He is responsible for thought leadership and strategy development, and acts as a global ambassador for KPMG worldwide.

Prior to joining KPMG, Mr de Boer was Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) - the body responsible for a multi-lateral response to the climate change challenge.

Before this, he was Director for International Affairs of the Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and Environment of the Netherlands, Deputy Director-General for Environmental Protection in the same Ministry, worked for the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (UN-HABITAT) and has worked in the fields of housing and public information.

Mr de Boer has been involved in climate change policies since 1994 and seeks broad stakeholder involvement in all issues relating to the challenge. Alongside his work for KPMG he is Professional Fellow at the University of Maastricht and a Member of the Board of the Centre for Clean Air Policy. He is also a Council Member of the World Business Council on Sustainable Development, co-chair of the taskforce on Climate and Energy, a member of the CMCI steering group, as well as a Board member of the Carbon Markets International Association. He also received a knighthood from her Majesty the Queen of the Netherlands in 2009 and the Dutch Climate Award in 2010.