Co-operatives South East

Co-operation & Sustainability

Conference

Tuesday 15th March, 2011, 9.30am – 4pm

Reading Museum & Town Hall  

With community led action and the ‘Big Society’ high on

the agenda, this event is the opportunity to explore how we

can use tools of co-operation and collaboration to create a

sustainable and green society.

• Hear from leading figures in the sustainability movement, including

Rob Hopkins, co-founder of Transition Town Totnes and of the Transition Network.

• Attend discussion groups on | green transport | renewable energy

| low carbon housing | creating sustainable communities and hear from leading

practitioners in each field.

• Network with other people interested in creating a

more co-operative and sustainable society.

Programme

 09.30 Coffee and registration

10.00 Welcome address: Jo White - Chair of Co-operatives South East

10.05 Keynote address: Alok Sharma MP for Reading West

10.30 Discussion Group

Low carbon housing - exploring collaborative approaches to retrofitting our

existing housing stock and the role of co-operation in building homes fit for the future.

Speakers include:

Phil Beardmore - Confederation of Co-operative Housing

Charlie Baker - Urbed

Carol Biggs - Hastings Trust

Green travel - through co operation with others, we can encourage a greener

approach to travel.

Speakers include:

Dan Harris - Oxford Cycle Workshop

Gemma White - The Phone Coop

12.00 Plenary session chaired by: Jo White - Chair of Co-operatives South East

12.30 Lunch and Networking

13.30 Discussion Group

Renewable energy - explore the challenges and opportunities through hearing

from groundbreaking practitioners in co-operative renewable energy.

Speakers include:

Mike Pickering - Midcounties Co-operative

Stuart Major - Solar Co-op

Mark Luntley - Westmill Wind Farm

Sustainable Communities - how bottom up approaches, which bring local people together to find their own solutions, can create more long lasting and effective change.

Speakers include:

Louise Rutterford - Centre for Sustainable Energy

Anna Eagar - Community Energy Direct

Rob Hopkins - co-founder of Transition Town Totnes and of the Transition Network

15.00 Plenary session chaired by Jo White

15.30 Closing address: Rob Hopkins - The Transition Network

16.00 Conference ends