About The BSR Conference 2017
The Leading Event for Collaboration and Action on Sustainable Business
The BSR Conference is one of the most important annual gatherings dedicated to finding solutions to our most pressing global challenges. Every year, nearly 1,000 sustainable business experts from Fortune 500 companies, as well as leading foundations, nonprofit organizations, and government, gather for unparalleled networking experiences, powerful plenary addresses and breakout sessions, and interactive professional development opportunities.
Join us this October to be a part of innovative solutions to the world’s biggest sustainability challenges.
BSR Conference 2017 Theme
How Business Leads
It’s BSR’s 25th anniversary year, and profound change is shaping sustainable business.
Be Inspired
Spotlight on Speakers
Annie Griffiths
Photographer, National Geographic
Founder and Executive Director, Ripple Effect Images
Annie Griffiths
Photographer, National Geographic, Founder and Executive Director, Ripple Effect Images
One of the first women photographers to work for National Geographic, Annie Griffiths has photographed in nearly 150 countries during her illustrious career and has worked on dozens of magazine and book projects for National Geographic. Griffiths’ work has also appeared in Fortune, GEO, LIFE, Smithsonian, and Stern, among other publications. In addition to her magazine work, Griffiths is deeply committed to photographing for aid organizations around the world. She is the founder and executive director of Ripple Effect Images, a collective of photographers who document programs that empower women and girls in the developing world. Ripple has produced 26 films and built a photo library of more than 20,000 images since 2010. Using these assets, Ripple’s aid beneficiaries have raised more than 10 million U.S. dollars, expanded their programs to multiple countries, and proven that women and girls are the best investment the world can make in our shared future.
Audrey Choi
Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Sustainability Officer, Morgan Stanley
Audrey Choi is chief marketing officer and chief sustainability officer of Morgan Stanley. As chief marketing officer, Choi is responsible for stewarding the brand to reflect the firm’s core values of leading with integrity and exceptional ideas across its businesses and geographies. As chief sustainability officer, she oversees the firm’s efforts to promote global sustainability through the capital markets. In a career spanning the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, Choi has become a thought leader on how finance can be harnessed to address community concerns and global challenges. Previously, Choi held senior policy positions in the Clinton Administration, including serving as chief of staff of the Council of Economic Advisers and domestic policy advisor to the vice president. She was also a foreign correspondent and bureau chief at The Wall Street Journal.
Kara Hurst
Worldwide Sustainability, Amazon
Kara Hurst leads Worldwide Sustainability at Amazon. Utilizing Amazon’s scale, speed, and innovation, Sustainability at Amazon includes core teams focused on packaging innovation, renewable energy, energy efficiency, circular economy, social responsibility and human rights, sustainability science and innovation, sustainability technology, partnerships and external engagement, and sustainable transportation. Prior to Amazon, Hurst served as CEO of The Sustainability Consortium and as a Vice President of BSR for 11 years, where she built global industry practices in technology, pharmaceuticals, hospitality, and entertainment. Prior to BSR, Hurst worked in Silicon Valley as executive director of the public-private venture OpenVoice, in corporate affairs for the Children’s Health Council, as a research lead at the Urban Institute, and as a policy staffer for both Mayor Willie Brown of San Francisco and the late Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan of New York.
Brad Smith
President and Chief Legal Officer, Microsoft
Brad Smith is Microsoft’s president and chief legal officer. In this role, Smith is responsible for the company’s corporate, external, and legal affairs. He leads a team of more than 1,300 business, legal, and corporate affairs professionals working in 55 countries. These teams are responsible for the company’s legal work, its intellectual property portfolio, patent licensing business, corporate philanthropy, government affairs, public policy, corporate governance, and social responsibility work. He is also Microsoft’s chief compliance officer. Smith plays a key role in representing the company externally and in leading the company’s work on a number of critical issues including privacy, security, accessibility, environmental sustainability, and digital inclusion, among others. Smith joined Microsoft in 1993, and before becoming general counsel in 2002, he spent three years leading the Legal and Corporate Affairs (LCA) team in Europe, then five years serving as the deputy general counsel responsible for LCA’s teams outside the United States.
Why Attend
Connect with Global Business Leaders
Join an influential community of changemakers at more than 20 networking events over three days.
“A great group of people attend this conference—exactly the kind of people I want to meet and talk with … Definitely worth the time, effort, and money.”
Why Attend
Never Stop Learning
Get unrivaled access to more than 30 candid discussions offering practical solutions to build a better future.
“The quality of the content and the networking opportunities are the best I've seen in this field.”
Why Attend
Redefine Sustainable Business
A new approach and a new voice to build a better future.
“You are the sustainability conference. I always feel challenged and inspired.”