„Do Business Leaders
in the CEE region
act sustainably?“
5th annual conference held under the auspices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic
October 18th, 2022
ESG > Leadership
„Do Business Leaders
in the CEE region
act sustainably?“
5th annual conference held
under the auspices of
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
of the Czech Republic
About the Conference
5th year of unique conference
focused on local business leaders and their relationship to ESG and sustainability
Celebration of 30th anniversary
of the Business Leaders Forum establishment
Sustainability strategy
as perceived by top managers
Best Practices
of sustainable and responsible projects and activities
Opportunity to discuss with top managers
in panel discussions and at discussion tables
Yearly results of Ipsos and Business Leaders Forum survey
Successful Leader and ESG - employee opinions
The jubilee's 5th year of the conference is associated with celebrating 30 years of the existence of Business Leaders Forum. Apart from performances by regional business leaders, ambassadors' presentations, and examples of good practices of local companies, the conference will also offer the opportunity to discuss ESG issues at discussion tables.
In addition, this year will bring an overview of corporate sustainability development in the Czech Republic over the past 30 years and the role of Business Leaders Forum in it. The latest results of the Successful Leader and ESG survey will also be published.
Performing This Year
Christian Schenk
Member of the Board of Management for Finance and IT at ŠKODA AUTO
Christian Schenk's career is closely linked to the Volkswagen Group - he has worked at various management roles where he was responsible for revision, finance or controlling. He participated in the transformation of the brand towards e-mobility. Since October 2021, as a member of the Board of Management for Finance and IT at Škoda AUTO, he has been committed to efficiency and transforming the company into a sustainable and digital enterprise within the framework of the new NEXT LEVEL – ŠKODA STRATEGY 2030.
Adriana Jahňáková
General Manager, LEGO Trading CZ/SK
During her 24-year career, Adriana Jahňáková has worked in 6 countries and led teams in marketing and sales in 100 countries around the world.
Before becoming a CEO of LEGO Trading for the Czech Republic and Slovakia in March 2020, she also worked at Procter and Gamble, Coca-Cola, and Plzeňský Prazdroj. She is a leadership and innovative thinking lecturer.
Jan Růžička
Chief Reputation Officer,
Home Credit Group
Jan Růžička is the head of external relations of the Home Credit Group. He lives and works in Hong Kong, where he manages teams in the USA, Asia, and Europe responsible for Corporate Affairs, Regulatory, PR, CSR, and ESG. Before coming to Asia, he worked for the Czech government for ten years at the Ministries of Culture and Health and was one of the prominent figures in health reform. Jan Růžička graduated from the University of Cambridge and Charles University and is still in academia, teaching behavioral economics and disruption in finance and healthcare at universities in Asia and Europe.
Lenka Mašková
Corporate Responsibility Manager CZ/SK, Tchibo
Lenka Mašková was part of Tchibo's local CSR strategy creation in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. She has been managing projects in corporate responsibility for over 10 years now. In her role she uses her experience of non-profit sector and project management in local administration.
Barbora Kotoun
Country Sustainability Manager, IKEA Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia
Barbora works as a Sustainability Manager for the Czechia, Hungary and Slovakia. Her main task is to incorporate the strategic goals of Ingka Group, which relate to sustainable development and the circular economy, into the day-to-day operations of the IKEA brand and its Retail chain. IKEA is committed to become climate-neutral by 2030, and one of the ways is to apply the principles of circular economy and waste prevention.
Barbora also works at IKEA and Ingka Group as an internal ambassador and spokesperson for sustainability issues. She is also responsible for a number of projects that motivate customers to live a healthy and sustainable life.
Zuzana Holá
Head of Communication & Sustainability
Vodafone Foundation Director
Zuzana Holá leads the corporate communications team at Vodafone and is also responsible for the company's sustainable business and ESG. Her team is in charge of coordinating ESG activities, non-financial reporting, audits and education.
She is also Vodafone Foundation Director, whose mission is to support technologies with a positive social impact.
She was also involved in sustainability before Vodafone, for several years she managed CSR and setting the strategy of sustainable development and reporting at Lidl.
Nick Archer
Ambassador of UK to the Czech Republic
Nick Archer has been the UK Ambassador to the Czech Republic since 2018. Previously, he served as Ambassador to Denmark and High Commissioner to Malta.
Ayesha Patricia Rekhi
Ambassador of Canada to the Czech Republic
Since joining the Department of Citizenship and Immigration Canada in 1999 and the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in 2002, Ayesha Patricia Rekhi has served in Canada as a Peacebuilding and Human Security Advisor and deputy director of Southeast Asia and Oceania Division. Between 2000 and 2019, she also worked directly in Southeast Asia.
In August 2019, Ms Rekhi was appointed Ambassador of Canada to the Czech Republic.
Phasporn Sangasubana
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Thailand to the Czech Republic
Phasporn Sangasubana has been the Ambassador of Thailand to the Czech Republic since 2021. She has been posted in various countries since 1991 such as Norway, Austria, Russian Federation, Singapore and Indonesia.
Vít Papoušek
External Affairs & Sustainability Manager at Home Credit Group
Vít Papoušek is an ESG manager at Home Credit Group. His role is to help in developing sustainable principles across the group. He is also responsible for ESG reporting and monitoring ESG trends, regulations and opportunities. In addition, he coordinates social responsibility and financial literacy projects.
Milan Medek
CSR Manager, Kooperativa
Milan Medek works as a CSR manager at Kooperativa and he is also the executive director of the Kooperativa Foundation. His CSR department focuses on prevention, sustainability, ecology, diversity, and philanthropy. For the past 20 years, he has worked in managerial positions in the field of marketing, of which 11 years he was the Director of Marketing and Product Development at Kooperativa. In addition, he taught marketing and CSR at universities.
Sandra Feltham
President, Business Leaders Forum
Director, Flagship
Sandra Feltham is a leading expert in sustainable development and ESG in the Czech Republic. She is the president of Business Leaders Forum and owns the sustainability consulting Flagship, which specializes in responsible business in Central and Eastern Europe.
Martina Popenková
Senior Client Director, Ipsos
Martina joined Ipsos in 2010. In her role, she was responsible for research in the field of innovation, potential measurement research and sales forecasting, but also for the projects focused on a brand and a general understanding of the market. Now, as Senior Client Director, she is dedicated to implementing research results into the processes of companies across sectors. Before joining Ipsos, Martina worked for Kantar in the UK for several years.
Karel Smékal
Director of the Communications Department
From 2020, Karel Smékal is the Special Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs for Participations of the Czech Republic at World Exhibitions.
In his previous diplomatic career, he served as Deputy Consul General of the Czech Republic in New York (2016 - 2020) and Deputy Ambassador of the Czech Republic in Albania (2011 - 2014).
He is a graduate of the Faculty of Arts of Charles University and the Prague Conservatory.
Ondřej Soška
General Commissioner for the Czech participation at EXPO 2025
On 24 August 2022, Ondřej SOŠKA was appointed by the Government of the Czech Republic as General Commissioner of the Czech participation in the General World Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan.
He is a manager with more than 20 years of experience in the private and public sphere. He has gained experience in Europe, USA, Middle and Far East, where he was involved in business strategy development, international business and management of multicultural teams.
He is a founding member of the association Czech Business Council in Dubai, where he served as Vice President from 2014 to 2020.
Partners
General Partner
Main Partner
Pod záštitou
Hlavní mediální partner
Program
| 8:45 | Beginning of the conference |
| 9:00 - 9:10 | An introductory word from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic and Tereza Koucká, Director of Business Leaders Forum |
| 9:10 - 9:25 | Leader Talks Jan Růžička, Chief Reputation Officer, Home Credit Group & Tereza Koucká, Director of Business Leaders Forum |
| 9:25 - 10:30 | Leadership Panel Christian Schenk, ŠKODA AUTO Board Member for Finance and IT Adriana Jahňáková, General Manager, LEGO Trading CZ/SK Jan Růžička, Chief Reputation Oficcer, Home Credit Group |
| 10:30 - 10:45 | MFA and sustainability - best practices from EXPO Karel Smékal, Special Envoy for Participations of the Czech Republic at World Exhibitions Ondřej Soška, General Commissioner for the Czech participation at EXPO 2025 |
| 10:45 - 11:00 | Coffee break |
| 11:00 - 11:45 | Ambassador Panel Nick Archer, Ambassador of Great Britain to the Czech Republic Ayesha Patricia Rekhi, Ambassador of Canada to the Czech Republic Phasporn Sangasubana, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Thailand to the Czech Republic |
| 11:45 - 12:45 | Best practices panel Lenka Mašková, Corporate Responsibility Manager CZ/SK, Tchibo Barbora Kotoun, Country Sustainability Manager, IKEA Czech Republic Zuzana Holá, Head of Communication & Sustainability/Vodafone Foundation Director |
| 12:45-13:45 | Lunch |
| 13:45 - 14:45 | Discussion tables How the insurance company is adapting its business to climate change - Milan Medek, Kooperativa How to convince your company about non-financial reporting - Jan Růžička, Home Credit Manipulation in marketing - Greenwashing as a risk for your business - Sandra Feltham, Flagship |
| 14:50 - 15:00 | Yearly results of Ipsos and Business Leaders Forum survey Successful Leader and ESG Martina Popenková, Senior Client Director, Ipsos |
| 15:00 - 18:00 | BLF 30th anniversary celebration |
Registration
For registration, please contact Šárka Hoffmannová at hoffmannova@blf.cz.
All-day marathon of lectures and inspiration.
2022 Sustainable Czechia Report with exciting interviews, analyses, and exclusive survey results.
Answering your questions in panel discussions with CEOs and top managers.
Networking with business leaders and experts in sustainability of top companies at the Czech market.
Contact
Contact for queries:
Conference address:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic
Černínský palác
Loretánské náměstí 101/5
118 00 Prague 1 - Hradčany