A Queen Margaret University Business School Symposium
Although sustainability seems to be omnipresent, it has sometimes become a dirty word. As regulatory expectations grow and public scrutiny intensifies, many organisations find themselves navigating the uneasy space between performative sustainability of over- or underreporting sustainability efforts – greenwashing and greenhushing respectively – and genuine, value creating sustainable practice. This event brings together experts from different perspectives to explore what matters in navigating sustainability beyond compliance and towards a strategic, long term business model.
Panel members will unpack the pressures that drive organisations to adopt superficial or defensive sustainability practices, and contrast these with ambitious approaches that embed environmental and social responsibility into core operations. From circular economy models and regenerative design to community wealth building and place based value creation, the discussion will highlight how sustainability can become a driver of innovation, resilience, and competitive advantage rather than a tick box exercise.
“Organisations feel increasingly caught between regulatory demands and stakeholder expectations,” the panel lead notes. “But sustainability done well is not a burden—it’s an opportunity. We want to open up a conversation about how organisations can shift from risk avoidance to value creation, and how organisations can lead in building socially and environmentally fairer communities.”
This event will offer practical insights for business leaders, policymakers, academics, students, and anyone interested in the future of responsible enterprises and organisations. Thomas Peschken-Holt will lead the panel discussion with contributions from Gordon Robertson, Chief Communications and Sustainability Officer, Edinburgh Airport; Nick Pollard, Finance Director, Link Housing; Dr Yuan Yuan Zhou, academic in the field of green consumption and behavioural change and a Social Enterprise perspective is also being sought.
‘Beyond Compliance: Rethinking Sustainability as a Business Model’ will take place at Queen Margaret University on Tuesday, 17th March 2026. Registration: 4:45pm Main event: 5pm–6pm Location: Room 2156, Queen Margaret University. This event is free to attend but booking via Eventbrite is essential.
