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Sustainability speakers coming to UF

August 22, 2007

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — International sustainability experts Hunter Lovins and Bob Willard will give keynote speeches at a University of Florida program set for Sept. 10.

Lovins and Willard will speak at 7 p.m. in the Reitz Student Union Grand Ballroom in a program titled “The Business Case for Sustainability.” They will speak during the UF Sustainability Showcase, aimed at helping students learn more about sustainability on campus, which will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. the same day in the Reitz Student Union Galleries. Hosting the program are the UF Office of Sustainability, the Warrington College of Business Administration, the Council for Sustainable Florida and ACCENT.

This event is free and open to the public. Doors open at 6 p.m.

Lovins, co-author of “Natural Capitalism” and president of Natural Capitalism Solutions, has lectured extensively in more than 15 countries. A professor of business at Presidio School of Management, she has served on the governing boards of one government, several businesses and a dozen nonprofits. Lovins served on the State of the World Forum’s Commission on Globalization and was one of four people from North America named to serve as a delegate to the United Nations Prep Conference for the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg.

Willard, author of “The Sustainability Advantage: Seven Business Case Benefits of a Triple Bottom Line” and “The Next Sustainability Wave: Building Boardroom Buy-in” is a leading expert on the business value of corporate sustainability strategies. Willard applies business and leadership development experience from his 34-year career at IBM Canada to engage the business community in employing the practices of sustainability.

In addition to the speakers and panel discussion, the UF Sustainability Showcase will highlight UF departments’ course offerings, research, extension work and opportunities for involvement in sustainability. UF student groups will share their efforts and opportunities for involvement.