Participants included Novus executives and community partners from Webster University, the St. Louis Zoo, the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, University of Missouri St. Louis, St. Louis Public Radio and others.

Ms Kakabadse presented remarks to the audience, addressing recent, prominent news topics around sustainability and agriculture – including drought, global water shortage, environmental sustainability and best practices for organizations to limit operational impacts on the environment.

Following Ms Kakabadse’s remarks, St. Louis Public Radio Science & Technology Reporter Veronique LaCapra moderated an open discussion between audience members and Ms Kakabadse.

“Climate change and weather patterns are going to continue to be an ongoing issue. Unfortunately it is only when one of these weather issues touches your region’s pocket that something is done,” said Ms Kakabadse. “We need to remember that environmental impacts affect all countries and all people not just one particular area, and if we are proactive in protecting the environment we can help to restore what we have taken.”

Ms Kakabadse, one of the world’s most prominent environmental leaders, was named the Inaugural Global Leader in Residence at Webster University’s George Herbert Walker School of Business and Technology earlier this year. As part of the program, she is visiting St. Louis throughout the week to address a variety of sessions and forums for students, faculty and the public – allowing attendees to discuss environmental, social, cultural and economic sustainability around the world, and how people can creatively develop solutions for sustainability.

“It was an honour to welcome Yolanda Kakabadse to Novus,” said Thad Simons, President and CEO of Novus. “This special event provided an opportunity for our global team and the greater community to have an open discussion from varying points of view in a setting that allowed for us to learn from one another as we move forward together as an industry facing great challenge, promise and responsibility.”