FIDI Focus online panel: sustainable relocation

Environmental and social sustainability are no longer 'nice to haves' for any business, they are now urgent and central to future success in the global mobility industry. What does this mean for global mobility stakeholders? Join the conversation and help shape the sustainable future of our industry!
FIDI Focus online panel on sustainable relocation

As the global mobility world starts to wake up to the need for more sustainable efforts and results in its industry, a variety of companies offering carbon footprint calculation, carbon offsetting and other "green initiatives" are promising a range of quick-fix solutions. But what does sustainability, in the broader sense of the term, mean in the global mobility context? What can and should the different stakeholders do in the short and long term to make a real, measurable impact?

Dominic Weaver, FIDI Focus editor, leads the conversation on the very hot topic of sustainable relocation. The consensus is that environmental and social sustainability are no longer 'nice to haves' for any business, they are now urgent and central to future success. Panelists from across the international moving & mobility industry discuss why this is the case, the progress made to date, and where relo must focus its attention on change - one practical step after the other

 

Watch the recording of the session

FIDI Focus sustainability panel - recording

Meet the panelists

Ben is a Senior Vice President for the Graebel Companies, a global relocation service provider based in Denver, Colorado. USA. Currently, Ben is a member of Graebel’s supplier development team responsible for global household goods transportation category and oversight of Graebel's EMEA and APAC supplier development teams. Ben also leads Graebel’s CSR Steering Committee and manages Graebel’s commitment to the UN Global Compact. In the past, Ben served as the Managing Director for the Graebel EMEA service center located in Prague, Czech Republic. Prior to the assignment in Prague, Ben has held multiple leadership positions with Graebel over his 39 years with the company.

René has run Relocation Africa in South Africa for 28 years and has a passion in dealing with international assignees across the African continent. René has developed and delivered many programmes and services as diverse as immigration, cultural training, and destination services, as well as temporary accommodation on the continent of Africa. She started a second company, Global Expatriate Management, operating internationally but focussing on the continent of Africa, which offers policy development, cost of living surveys, housing surveys, international payroll and payment management. This company is now merged with Relocation Africa and formed the Relocation Africa Group. René has recently launched MyResidence.Africa, which covers Corporate Housing on the Continent of Africa. René has a MBA (Strategy) and has recently completed further studies in Sustainable Development in a Post Capital world, Work and Employment for Sustainable Future, Introduction to Corporate sustainability, social innovation and ethics as well as measuring sustainable development with her recent interest and passion in sustainable development.

  • Derrick Young, Director, Transportation Governance at BGRS

Derrick has worked for over 25 years in the mobility industry, including the management of corporate client mobility programmes and as a direct supplier of DSP, immigration and moving services. He has held senior management roles in France, China, Thailand, Indonesia, Hong Kong, and the USA. He joined BGRS in March 2013. He currently has Global responsibility for the International and US/Canada domestic HHG’s suppliers. Derrick is a key stakeholder in the development of BGRS technology related to procurement, compliance, file management, analytics, and the customer experience of the household goods service line. Previous roles held at BGRS include country manager of China and as a Director of Client Services in APAC working with multiple corporate clients. His broad mobility experience, and his own 20+ years as an expatriate, make him a valued member for the consulting of corporate clients and BGRS Service teams on many mobility topics.

With over 25 years industry experience, Paul followed his passion for sustainability which led him to start the Inspire Global Mobility consultancy and the fast-growing Sustainability & ESG In Global Mobility LinkedIn group. Paul has a particular interest in the circular economy, Scope 3 emissions, the UN Global Compact and UN Sustainability development goals. He has completed studies on Concepts in Sustainable Development and has ongoing studies in Business Sustainability Management at the University of Cambridge Institute For Sustainability Leadership, a globally influential institute developing leadership and solutions for a sustainable economy.

Paul works with Global Mobility professionals and service providers who need to change their thinking, practices, and policies to deliver a positive sustainable future.

With a background in languages and logistics management, Jessica has been working in the moving industry for the past 16 years. Responsible for Gosselin’s international partner network and key global accounts, Jessica is a sponsor of Gosselin’s “Going Green” Focus Team

President of the FIDI 39 Club since September 2021, she was one of the founding members of the Global Green Initiative (GGI), a collaboration project between FIDI 39 Club, IAM YP’s, and LACMA Next.

For more information, questions or comments, please contact Dominic Weaver, FIDI Focus editor at editor@fidifocus.org or Magali Horbert, FIDI Marketing & Communications Manager, at marketing@fidi.org