Natural Capital Initiative Summit 2025
Prioritising wellbeing: evidence needs for action

Details

When? Wednesday 19 February 2025, 09:00 to 17:00
Where? City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, London E16 1ZE

Prioritising wellbeing: evidence needs for action

This one-day conference is hosted by the Natural Capital Initiative (NCI), a partnership between the Royal Society of Biology (RSB), James Hutton Institute, and the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UKCEH).

The aim of the NCI is to support decision-making that results in the sustainable management of our natural capital, facilitating cross-sector dialogue between people from academia, policy, business and civil society. The Summit and resulting report will determine what further evidence is needed to help achieve sustainable management of natural capital, with a focus on underpinning several of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).

Event Description

The Summit will kick-off with a morning of talks, questions and answers with leading figures, including taking stock of progress since the previous NCI summit in 2019.

Cross-sector attendees will then meet, discuss and debate via an afternoon of breakout sessions, focused on answering core questions ‘What further evidence is needed to help':

mutually enhance nature restoration, public health and wellbeing?
systemically embed sustainable management of natural capital in financial and economic systems?
mitigate and adapt to changing environmental conditions and natural resource needs?

Sessions will be interspersed with networking periods, allowing different sector representatives to connect, share further insights and consider the latest research.

Confirmed Speakers

Professor Alison Hester, Senior Scientist and Head of Climate-Positive Farming Initiative, James Hutton Institute
Professor Rosie Hails MBE, Director of Science and Nature for the National Trust, and Chair of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) Biodiversity Expert Committee (BEC)
Richard Spencer, Director of Sustainability at the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW)
Maddie Millington-Drake, Senior Climate Project Manager at the Blue Marine Foundation
Georgina Gerard, Wildlife Disease Risk Analysis and Health Surveillance (DRAHS) Project Manager at Zoological Society of London (ZSL)
Kai Liebtanz, Head of Nature at the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC)

A draft programme is available to download.

Bookings

This in-person event is open to people from academia, policy, business sectors and civil society, who hold expertise and interest in sustainable development and management of natural capital. Advance booking is essential through the link at the top of the page.

Standard Ticket: £120
Student Ticket: £100

Submit an abstract

We are accepting abstracts for scientific posters to be showcased at the NCI Summit 2025. To submit an abstract, create a free mySociety account (or log in if you are an RSB member), then follow the instructions at the bottom of this event page. The deadline for submissions is 23:59 on 6th January 2025.

Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

This event is approved by the Royal Society of Biology for purposes of CPD and can be counted as 15 CPD points.

Special requirements

If you have accessibility requirements, please let us know during your booking using the additional information options, and we will do what we can to accommodate your needs.

Contact

For general enquiries about this event, please contact Kieran Woof at kieran.woof@rsb.org.uk

For booking enquiries, please contact Lucy Eckersley at events@rsb.org.uk

The Natural Capital Initiative is a partnership of leading science organisations: Royal Society of Biology, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, and the James Hutton Institute.

Call for Papers
Guidance notes for submitting your abstract:

1. Follow the link below entitled 'Click here for more information about submissions' to download an abstract submission form.

2. Fill in the form and upload using the Upload abstract button at the top of the page.

3. Delegates will be notified if their Abstracts have been accepted by the 17th January 2025.

4. Please note: Once you select Save Changes to your Abstract, it will be submitted. You will then not be able to view, edit or delete it. If you want to make any changes contact Lucy Eckersley at events@rsb.org.uk or on 020 3925 3445.

Click here for more information about submissions

Code of Conduct

By its Royal Charter, the Royal Society of Biology (RSB) has the powers to promote, establish and support standards of professional skill and conduct. The RSB is committed to ensuring equal opportunities in the life sciences, and supports diversity throughout the pipeline. We proactively promote a culture of inclusivity within our discipline and the broader STEM community. It is vital at any RSB event or meeting, that everyone attending is free from any form of harassment or discrimination, feels comfortable and safe, and has the opportunity for an enjoyable experience.

Click or tap here to download our Events Code of Conduct

Natural Capital Initiative Summit 2025Prioritising wellbeing: evidence needs for action