Day 1 – Thursday 23rd – Break-out 1 - 11:30-13:00
Embedding nature in your business strategy
Organiser: Business for Nature
Business Action
Location: Room 1 - Recording Presentation
Session description
As Business for Nature launches the It’s Now for Nature Pulse, this session dives into the report, highlighting the critical importance of embedding nature into robust and credible corporate strategies. Drawing from insights, challenges, and best practices shared by industry experts and leading businesses, the session aims to explore effective approaches to driving collective action for nature. The business case for acting on nature has never been stronger. In this session, participants will gain valuable perspectives on why embedding nature in corporate strategies is essential for business resilience and sustainable growth
Moderators
Michael Ofosuhene-Wise - Head of Global Engagement, Business for Nature
Lizzy Elli - Global Engagement Lead, Business for Nature
Speakers
Geoff Hamilton - Biodiversity Lead, ESB Centre of Sustainability
Emer Ní Dhúill - Head of Research, Business for Biodiversity Ireland
Anni Vuohelainen - Director Nature, Tetra Pak
Holly Metcalfe - Manager, Roadmaps to Nature Positive, WBCSD
Marie Morgan Grebent - Nature & Biodiversity Project Lead, Decathlon
Hing Kin Lee - Group Lead for Nature, NextEnergy Capital
Jesus Carrasco Narajo – Biodiversity Global Responsible, Iberdrola
Nature credits: taking stock of initial pilots
Organiser: Climate Leadership Coalition
Biodiversity Finance
Location: Room 2 - Recording Presentation
Session Description:
This session delves into Nordic approaches to biodiversity finance, highlighting how compensation schemes and nature credit markets can accelerate nature recovery. We will discuss the growing role of financial institutions in building transparent, equitable, and scalable markets that work for biodiversity.
Moderator
Tuuli Kaskinen – CEO, Climate Leadership Coalition
Speakers
Bettina Doeser - Head of Unit, DG ENV, Unit D.2. Natural Capital & Ecosystem Health, European Commission
Leif Schulman - Director General, Finnish Environment Institute (Syke)
Claire Blery - Head of B4B+ Club, CDC Biodiversité
Simon Scholl NbS - Commercial Strategist, Tridodos Bankµ
Tomas Qvickström - VP Corporate Sustainability, Fortum
Barbara Sanderson – COO, TNFD
Jean-Baptiste Jacquet – VP, Sustainable Finance, ING Bank
Resilient & Sustainable food systems through value chain collaboration
Organiser: Baltic Sea Action Group
Circular & Bioeconomy
Location: Room 3 - Recording Presentation
Session description:
This session highlights the need for systemic change in the food system, emphasizing sustainability, risk mitigation, and multi-actor collaboration. Finland is already a frontrunner in regenerative agriculture, with successful value chain examples that demonstrate practical, scalable solutions. Participants will have the chance to explore these cases, gather best practices, and learn actionable insights that can inspire sustainable initiatives across Europe. Featuring the Carbon Action platform, the session will also showcase science-based climate and biodiversity solutions.
Moderator
Saara Kankaanrinta - Founder, board member, Carbon Action
Speakers
Elina Erkkilä - ESG Director, OP Financial Group
Janika Keinänen - Director, Sustainable Business Development, Growth Businesses and R&D, Valio
Klaas Jan van Calker - Head of Sustainability, Interfood Global B.V.
Aino Wathén - Dairy Farmer, Interfood Global B.V.
Valuing nature related risks: from systemic risk to corporate action
Organiser: Foundation for Sustainable Development
Biodiversity Finance
WORKSHOP
Location: Room 4 - Presentation
Session Description:
This workshop builds on the BIROFIN project, bringing finance, science, and business together to co-create approaches for managing biodiversity-related risks and opportunities in a changing climate. We will explore how climate scenarios can be translated into biodiversity loss impacts, how these affect the value of ecosystem services in macro-economic analysis, and how such insights can inform credible transition planning. Alongside risk assessments, we will discuss abatement measures and nature-based solutions—addressing both sides of the coin: understanding systemic risks and identifying actionable opportunities.
Participants will gain access to the latest research, exchange perspectives on what information is most valuable (or still missing), and examine how to embed these insights into robust nature transition plans. The session combines knowledge sharing with interactive dialogue, designed to move risk management from analysis to action.
Moderator
Vince van `t Hoff - Senior Program Officer ESVD, Foundation for Sustainable Development
Speakers
Marcia Arredondo Rivera - Researcher Valuation of Nature, Wageningen Social and Economic Research
Willem Jan van Zeist - Dr./PhD, Wageningen Social and Economic Research
Hazem Krichene - Dr., Allianz SE
Sjoerd van der Zwaag - Program manager, De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB)
Wijnand Broer - Program manager, Partnership for Biodiversity Accounting Financials (PBAF)
Caroline van Leenders - Senior process manager sustainable transitions, Netherlands Enterprise Agency
Day 1 – Thursday 23rd – Break-out 2 - 14:30-16:00
Financing the nature-positive transition
Organiser: EU B&B Platform (Workstream Finance)
Biodiversity Finance
Location: Room 1 - Recording Presentation
Session description:
This session explores how financial institutions can collaborate to close the nature financing gap and scale up nature investments. We will discuss innovative financing models, frameworks for nature-positive action, and effective methods for assessing contributions to positive biodiversity impact, all with the aim of supporting biodiversity-aligned finance.
By sharing best practices and expert perspectives, this interactive session will engage participants in jointly identifying enablers for scaling biodiversity finance, fostering a shared understanding and defining concrete actions for the way forward.
Moderators
Anne-Marie Bor - Worstream Finance lead, European Business & Biodiversity Platform - NextGreen
Martha Bailon – Worstream Finance, European Business & Biodiversity Platform – NextGreen
Speakers
Anssi Kiviniemi - Head of Sustainability at SEB Finland
Fadayn Pronk – Fund Manager & Head of Portfolio Management, ASR Dutch Farmland Fund
Hadrien Gaudin-Hamama - Impact & ESG specialist, Mirova - Co-chair FfB Positive Impact working group
Michèle Lacroix - Group Head of Sustainability, SCOR
Simon Scholl - NbS Commercial Strategist, Triodos Bank
Hadrien Michel - Policy Officer Biodiversity and Nature Restoration, DG ENV, European Commission
Jaani Pietikäinen - Head of EIB Group Office in Finland
Corporate biodiversity measurement
Organiser: University of Jyväskylä
Business Action
Location: Room 2 - Recording Presentation
Session description:
Assessing the biodiversity impacts of businesses is vital in identifying cost-effective and meaningful actions to reduce impacts. This session aims to support the uptake of corporate biodiversity measurement, providing clarity on how assessments are conducted and how common obstacles in biodiversity measurement can be overcome.
Moderators
Sami El Geneidy - Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Jyväskylä
Charlotte Maddinson - Doctoral Researcher, University of Jyväskylä
Speakers
Vincent Guénon - Project Manager, CDC Biodiversité
Thomas White - Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Oxford - Principal Consultant, The Biodiversity Consultancy
Tiina Paajanen - Lead Consultant, Biodiversity Team Lead, Ecobio
Nina Elomaa - VP Sustainability, S Group
Bálint Ternyik - Programme Office, UNEP-WCMC
Jolien Verhelst – Workstream Methods , European Business & Biodiversity Platform - Consultant Biodiversity & Sustainability, Arcadis
Best practices of implementing circular business models for competitiveness, resilience, and nature
Organiser: Sitra
Circular & Bioeconomy
Location: Room 3 - Recording Presentation
Session description:
Join us for this engaging session on how business leaders can use circularity to boost competitiveness and resilience while also tackling nature loss. The workshop will start with an overview of circularity and its potential for various sectors, followed by pitches of real-world solutions and best practices. Interactive panel discussions will then be used to explore the key enablers behind successful circular solutions.
Moderators
Ulla Heinonen - Director, Green Growth, Confederation of Finnish Industries (EK)
Karin Nilsson - Environmental Policy Lead, Confederation of Swedish Enterprise (SN)
Speakers
Tim Forslund - Senior Lead, Sitra
Nora Malin - Chief Commercial Officer, Reima
Tomi Vittaniemi - Director of Business Development, Parmaco
Aino Erkinjuntti - Sales & Marketing Director, Innomost
Pia Tanskanen – Head of Environment, Nokia
Sara Sundquist – Industrial Policy Expert, Swedish Food Federation
Tinja Harjunen – Circular Economy Account Manager, GRK
Collaboration for Nature: How multi-stakeholder partnerships can drive real impact for biodiversity at landscape scale
Organiser: Fauna & Flora
Business Action
WORKSHOP
Location: Room 4 - Presentation
Session description:
This workshop will explore how multi-stakeholder partnerships can drive biodiversity protection and restoration across landscapes. A diverse panel of speakers from NGOs and businesses will set the scene by sharing case studies of successful collaboration within landscapes. Through interactive roundtable discussions, participants will gain insights into the value of multi-stakeholder partnerships, the unique contributions of different actors, and the foundations needed to build successful collaborations that can scale initiatives across landscapes. Attendees will leave with fresh ideas and practical knowledge for initiating and sustaining impactful partnerships, as well as strengthened networks to support future collaborations.
Moderator
Anne-Sophie Pellier - Senior Business & Nature Programme Manager, Fauna & Flora
Speakers
Timo Lehesvirta - Leading Nature Expert, Metsä Group
Hugo Costa - Director of Business & Biodiversity Impact, Wildlife Conservation Society
Stefanie Lang - Executive Director, Legacy Landscapes Fund
Alessandro Leonardi - Co-Founder & Managing Director, Etifor
Day 2 - Friday 24th – Break-out 3 - 11:30-13:00
Rationale and Roadblocks for Business Transformation to Nature Positive
Organiser: Horizon Nua & Trinity College Dublin
Business Action
Location: Room 1 - Recording Presentation
Session Description:
Nature is a critical business risk and opportunity. The risks of biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse, expected to worsen in severity over the next 10 years (WEF, 2025), threaten the very foundation of society, including all economic activities. While awareness and action has been demonstrated by the business community, it has not reached the level needed to achieve a nature-positive economy. Unclear policy signals – from the Omnibus simplification amendments to the subsidising of harmful activities – are among the major impediments to this transition. A new EC Expert Publication, “Policy Imperatives for a Competitive and Resilient Nature-Positive Economy,” identifies and addresses these roadblocks through actionable recommendations and real-world solutions, illustrated by case studies. Launched at this session, the publication features new research and case studies from 40+ EU projects (coordinated by the Horizon Europe project, Invest4Nature) outlining out both the rationale for and the challenges to nature positive transformation from a business and policy perspective. Businesses will share their experiences applying the publication’s recommendations, while policy makers will be invited to outline their commitments to advancing a nature-positive economy in the evolving geopolitical context.
Moderator
Siobhan McQuaid - Director, Horizon Nua, & Associate Director, Centre for Social Innovation, Trinity College Dublin
Speakers
Maija Bergström - Project Manager (VALUE project) from The City of Helsinki Urban Environment Division
Claudia Pérez Casas - Environment and Energy Specialist, Sacyr
Pavel Dostal – CEO, GreenVille
Fleur Van Ooststroom Brummel - Policy Officer, Biodiversity and Nature-based Solutions, European Commission
Transforming corporate engagement: How investors can drive nature action
Organiser: Finance for Biodiversity Foundation
Biodiversity Finance
Location: Room 2 - Recording Presentation
Session Description:
This session will explore how financial institutions can improve engagement with companies to drive nature-positive action. Focusing on current challenges and emerging opportunities, the session will include expert insights, corporate perspectives, and examples of collaborative investor initiatives.
The session will create a space for participants to ask questions and share reflections. These insights will contribute to the Finance for Biodiversity Foundation’s upcoming Guide on Engagement with Companies.
Moderator
Peter Elwin - Director of Corporate Engagement and Research, Finance for Biodiversity Foundation
Speakers
Katarina Heissenberger - Director Sustainability & Corporate Engagement, Swedbank Robur Fonder AB
Deepshikha Singh - Head of Stewardship and Deputy Head of Sustainable Investment Research at Crédit Mutuel Asset Management, Groupe La Française
Clémence Bourcet - PhD, Sustainability Analyst, Sycomore Asset Management
Joanna Kuntonen-van ‘t Riet - Corporate Affairs and Communication, Anglo American
Redirecting finance for regenerative agriculture
Organiser: The Nature Conservancy, The European Landowners Organization
Circular & Bioeconomy
Location: Room 3 - Livestream Presentation
Session description:
The transition to regenerative agriculture is a key pathway to safeguarding healthy nature and climate, on which food security depends. The agrifood sector has the potential to become a positive force in this transition, with the sector’s engagement being critical to redirecting finance toward regenerative forms of farming. Incentives for sustainable agricultural practices, nature-based solutions, and biodiversity-linked finance can all help drive this necessary transformation. Redirecting harmful subsidies, alongside leveraging support mechanisms and innovative financial instruments, can also play an important role.
In this session we will explore opportunities for redirecting finance toward regenerative agriculture, and their relevance in light of the current and future EU policy-finance architecture, in dialogue with representatives of farmers, landowners, agrifood companies, and others. Following an introduction to set the scene, a panel of experts will provide short statements as discussion starters. We will then invite the audience to intervene and engage in a moderated panel discussion, concluding with a Q&A.
Moderators
Frank Rijsberman - Global Head for Policy and Public Funding, The Nature Conservancy
Speakers
Delphine Dupeux - Director EU Affairs, The European Landowners Organization
Bart Vandewaetere - VP ESG Engagement Europe, Nestle
Sjoerd van der Zwaag - Senior Sustainable Finance Officer, Dutch Central Bank
Emma Terämä - Director for Biodiversity and Nature Value Finance, Finnish Ministry of Environment
Martine van Weelden - Director, Capitals Coalition
Implementing nature strategies: Challenges and solutions
Organiser: UN Global Compact Nordics
Business Action
WORKSHOP
Location: Room 4 - Presentation
Session Description:
In this interactive workshop, we will dive into the operational complexities of turning a nature strategy into tangible nature action. Companies from diverse industries will present challenges they face when implementing their nature strategy. This will be followed by an engaging group exercise aimed at identifying potential solutions to these challenges. Together, we will explore what it truly means to go from ambition to action on nature.
Moderators
Albert Askeljung Andrée - Programme Manager, Environment and Climate, UN Global Compact Sweden
Joachim Marc Christensen – Head of Climate & Environment, UN Global Compact Network Sweden
Netta Honkanen – Programme Manager SDG & SME, UN Global Compact Network Finland
Speakers
Franziska Enzmann - Biodiversity Manager, Henkel
Martin Carlsson - Nature Manager, Tetra Pak
Tommy Kristoffersen - Biodiversity Lead Specialist, Ørsted