How to keep up momentum in the face of scepticism, de-escalation and political instability
THIS EVENT IS PART OF READING CLIMATE FESTIVAL 2026 (6 TO 20 JUNE 2026)
However personally passionate we are about sustainability, it has become very clear in recent months that it has been slipping down the priority list for businesses. The reasons behind this are many and varied but include government row-back on sustainability goals and spiralling costs.
So for this Sustainability Champions Forum, our focus will be on how to keep up the drive towards sustainability when others seem to have eased off and why it still makes sense.
Rokas Vaicekavicius from NatWest’s sustainability team will be joining us to talk about some of the challenges and share some of the tools the bank has on offer to help small and medium businesses with their sustainability efforts. He will then join a panel of local sustainability champions with different perspectives on the issue for a panel discussion, before we open the conversation up to the floor.
We’ll end with informal networking so you can make and strengthen connections with fellow sustainability champions.
Your free ticket includes a pint or soft drink and plant-based nibbles to enjoy during the event.
READING CLIMATE FESTIVAL 2026
This event is part of ReadingCAN’s Reading Climate Festival 2026. Browse the full two-week programme here: https://tinyurl.com/4rzm2tv5
Reading has a new framework for collective climate action, covering the years 2026 to 2030. Local organisations and volunteers can get involved here: www.readingcan.org.uk/ourplan25-30
#ReadingClimateFestival26
AGENDA
4-4:30pm: Arrivals
4:30-4:35pm: Welcome
4:35-4:55pm: Presentation
4:55-5:30pm: Panel discussion
5:30pm-5:50pm: Q&A
5:50-6pm: Wrap-up
6-6:30pm: Networking
ABOUT OUR SPEAKERS
Rokas Vaicekavicius – Propositions and Engagement Consultant at NatWest Group, NatWest
Rokas has over 12 years of commercial banking experience, having worked in Anti-Money Laundering, Transaction Documentation, Asset Finance and Sector Strategy for Tech Media and Telecoms.
He now works on NatWest’s Commercial and Sustainability Propositions team, identifying customer pain points and designing propositions that help customers meet their challenges and thrive.
He launched NatWest’s innovative IP funding proposition which supports innovative high growth businesses, supported NatWests partnership with JSG Group that helps low-income university students access funds quickly and is the Business QA and testing lead for NatWest’s exciting new Sustainability Planner platform which will help customers easily calculate their carbon footprint and identify opportunities for improvement.
Dr Sam Mudie – Director of Consultancy services at Hospitality Energy Saving and Sustainability (HESS)
Through her consultancy, Hospitality Energy Saving and Sustainability, Dr Sam Mudie leads the development and execution of sustainability strategies and the energy and carbon reduction needs of over 7,000 UK pubs, restaurants, stadia and hotels.
Sam is unique in the industry, having completed her doctoral thesis on Energy Reduction in Commercial Catering and published eight award-winning peer-reviewed academic journal papers on the subject. This research measured the energy consumption attributed to equipment, menus and staff behaviours within the food service industry for the first time.
Sam completed her doctorate at the University of Reading, where she also held the post of Energy Officer for four years.
Her subsequent projects have resulted in a range of successful energy reduction initiatives, achieving millions of pounds worth of savings.
Matt Tebbit, Director of Dining Services, University of Reading
Matt leads the University of Reading’s food and beverage operations, providing a wide range of services from bars to restaurants, everyday options to fine dining. He has a special interest in sustainability and has worked hard to achieve 3* accreditation from the Sustainable Restaurant Association for all the university’s catering operations.
He has worked alongside Sam from Hospitality Energy Saving and Sustainability as part of that journey, and will be able to talk about the impact her approach has had.
