Sir Richard Branson and Edward Norton to speak at the Six Senses SLOW LIFE
Symposium Environmental Conference
Sir Richard Branson and American actor and environmental campaigner, Edward Norton
are among the pantheon of global environmental leaders who are set to speak at the third
annual Six Senses SLOW LIFE Symposium, to be held at Soneva Fushi in the Maldives.
The conference will run over four days between 6th-10th October and bring together the
leading minds in the fields of business, sustainability and environmental issues with
globally-influential policy-makers and heads of state.
Sir Richard and Edward Norton will join President Nasheed of the Maldives, the event’s
keynote speaker, among other guests including Sonu Shivdasani, Chairman and CEO, Six
Senses Resorts and Spas, Jonathon Porritt (Forum For The Future) and Tim Smit (The Eden
Project).
Sir Richard has been invited to talk about the challenge of a changing environment to his
business portfolio. He will discuss the need for the Virgin empire to evolve rapidly to meet
these changes and the steps he is already taking in his businesses and through organisations
like the Carbon War Room.
Sir Richard will be discussing alternative fuel sources and new technologies to power Virgin’s
fleet of trains, and aircrafts and how we need to adapt our buildings to meet the challenges of
rising fossil fuel prices and to stem carbon emissions.
Edward Norton will discuss the benefits that the tourism industry can bring to local ecosystems, wildlife and communities. He will take examples from large wildlife reserves that
might otherwise be developed as mines or farms and the mutual benefit of supporting
communities to protect their local environment.
The focus will be on the role that tourism can play in implementing ‘best practice’ on both a
local and global scale, and how visionary policy makers and business leaders can form an
alliance, particularly in support of small island states. Mr Norton will draw on his role as
President of the board of trustees of the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust.
Soneva Fushi provides a perfect destination to witness first-hand the fragility and beauty of
small islands, while simultaneously exploring how a luxury tourism business can develop
sustainably and profitably. Six Senses is committed to decarbonising its flagship Soneva
Fushi resort by the end of 2013.
Sonu Shivdasani said: “Within the travel and tourism industries, there is no road map to
decarbonise. It is our ambition to provide that roadmap for the industry and the SLOW LIFE
Symposium is a key part of our mission to achieve that goal.
“In its third year, the Symposium continues to bring together the finest minds in the world to
develop practical and inspiring solutions to how we can reduce our impact on our fragile
ecosystems.”
ENDS
For further information please contact Sophy Williams by email : sophy@sixsenses.com
NEW WEBSITE – www.slowlifesymposium.com
Follow these talks and many more via www.slowlifesymposium.com – a new website that
will provide full coverage of the event, including video content of key sessions, participant
perspectives and insights as the event unfolds, and rolling blog commentary of all sessions.
There will be exclusive interviews with key speakers [including Richard Branson, Ed Norton
and President Nasheed of the Maldives] and inspirational case studies of innovation from
both private companies and national governments as they demonstrate their pathways to
carbon neutrality and economically viable futures.
Or via Twitter : @SLOWLIFEsym
Mission Statement: The Six Senses SLOW LIFE Symposium - Progressive solutions for
future tourism
The Six Senses SLOW LIFE Symposium convenes the world's leading thinkers, policy makers and
business leaders to accelerate progress towards sustainable business practices in the tourism industry.
The SLOW LIFE Symposium seeks to support all small island and progressive states in their shared
endeavours to create a sustainable, low-carbon future.
The focus of the SLOW LIFE Symposium will be on practical solutions to the principal challenges
facing the tourism industry, including low-carbon infrastructure, transportation, resort management
and threatened biodiversity.