We recently wrapped up our first in-person gathering of 2025 at the North American Sustainability and Responsibility Summit (NASRS) — the premier gathering of enterprise sustainability and responsibility leaders.
The two-and-a-half-day summit held in Denver brought together 350 attendees from over 150 global organizations and featured 40 renowned speakers from companies including HP, PepsiCo, and Walmart.
Let’s dive into some of the critical sustainability and responsibility topics we covered.
Practitioner-led Workshops
Before the official start of the Summit, ESG & CSR Board members met in a confidential, members-only setting to dive deeper into their toughest challenges through six practitioner-led workshops, six peer advisory roundtables, and one-on-one connections.
- AI and ESG: Getting Left Out or Getting Burned, How Do We Avoid Both? – led by Kaidi Johnson at Motorola Solutions
- Scope 3: How Do We Make It Less of a Headache? – led by Christine Daugherty at Conagra Brands
- Tackling the Sustainability Leader’s Evolving Role – led by Karen Garnett at Charles Schwab
- Building Out Your ESG Tech Stack Without Toppling – led by Katya Hantel at Smith+Nephew
- Driving Impact While Building the Brand: How Do You Find the Balance? – led by Paul Pellizzari at Hard Rock International
- Balancing Growth, Investment, and Sustainability – led by Eunice Heath at CRH
Peer Advisory Roundtables
Unlike traditional conference formats with pre-set agendas, these dynamic, interactive discussions were shaped entirely by attendees.
Participants suggested the topics they cared about most, voted in real time, and joined the conversations that resonated with their current challenges. This peer-driven format ensured every roundtable was timely, relevant, and rooted in the real-world experiences of ESG and CSR leaders.
- CSRD & Omnibus: Now what do we do?
- ESG swim lanes: Who leads what? How do you decide?
- Raters like SBTi and CDP are moving goal posts – Are they still worth doing?
- Voluntary ESG reporting: How are they changing in the US?
- Supplier Engagement: What data to collect? How to drive impact?
- Sustainability: How do we shift focus away from regulations?
The best on-site discussions will grow as full community conversations in the coming weeks and months as we dig deeper into these challenges together.
North American Sustainability & Responsibility Summit Keynotes
In addition to our private ESG & CSR Board Peer Practitioner Forum, members experienced thought-provoking NASRS presentations from industry leaders who shared transformative insights, emerging trends, and strategic visions for the future. These carefully selected keynote speakers brought fresh perspectives and actionable strategies that inspired and challenged ESG leaders’ thinking.
Embracing Circular Innovation
Presentation by HP Chief Sustainability Officer and Senior Vice President of Sustainable Impact and Compliance Jen Huffstetler
Pioneering Low Carbon Solutions
Presentation by ExxonMobil Chief Environmental Scientist Matt Kolesar
A Boldly Pragmatic Approach to Sustainability
Presentation by Johnson & Johnson Chief Sustainability Officer Paulette Frank
Advancing Healthcare Sustainably
Presentation by Medtronic Chief Sustainability Officer Raman Venkatesh
Watch the rest of the NASRS’25 presentation videos here.
Private Member Dinner
After a full day of conversations and connections, ESG & CSR Board members attended an exclusive dinner to unwind, relax, and connect in a more informal setting. This private dinner offered a unique opportunity to build deeper relationships, share experiences, and engage in meaningful conversations with peers outside of the structured sessions, fostering lasting connections.
