Regenerative Business Leaders

Regenerative Business Leaders Events

• First International Regenerative Business Leaders Conference | 12 March | 9.00-17.00

  On Thursday, 12th March 2026, the Regenerative Business Leaders gathered for their first international conference at the beautiful Botanic Garden Zuidas in Amsterdam, a fitting backdrop for a day of conversations about regenerating the relationship between business, society, and the natural world.

  The event was organised by Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, University of Amsterdam, WhatxNext, Wansdronk Architecture, SparkBiQ, Friesland-Campina, BLT Group, and the Sustainable Development Solutions Netherlands (SDNS), with a workshop led by Regenalyze.

  The day brought together universities, businesses, and changemakers in a space that too rarely exists, and feedback from attendees made clear just how much that space is needed.

  Some voiced a frustration that will be familiar to many: that universities have been slow to engage with the pace and urgency of real-world sustainability challenges. It is a fair reflection, and one we take seriously. At the same time, the fact that this conference happened at all, convened by academic institutions alongside businesses actively driving change, is itself a signal that this is shifting.

  Systemic change is needed, and the shift needs to happen in the next 5-10 years. From transversal education integration to a rethinking of how we organise collective action. At the end of the day, “politics is what happens when more than two people talk about a better future.”

  The day was a reminder that we are navigating a profound transition, from the Anthropocene to the Symbiocene; from an era defined by human dominance to one shaped by reciprocity, respect, and regeneration.

  We have started something meaningful. But the energy from this day needs to carry forward: we must continue the conversation, build on the connections made, and find new ways to explore what regenerative business truly looks like in practice.

• Regenerative Leadership in the Age of AI | 15 April | 9.00-17.00

  On the 15th of April the RBL will be hosting an extraordinary one-day conference at The Crowne Plaza, Utrecht, that brings together visionary leaders from government, academia, and business to explore how regenerative leadership and ethical AI can reshape our approach to sustainability, governance, and profit.

  About the Conference Agenda

  Regenerative Business Leadership in the Age of AI - is a gathering designed to foster active collaboration and meaningful transformation. Through keynotes, panels, interactive sessions, and dialogue circles, we will:

  • Foster active collaboration and participation in the Regenerative Business Leadership Program
  • Demystify AI and centre human values and compassion for nature in business transformation
  • Redefine profit as thriving for people, planet, and purpose
  • Build trust in innovative governance and ESG compliance platforms

  Please register here. 

• Regenerative Leadership in the Age of AI | Agenda

  08:45–09:30 – Arrival and Immersive Welcome

  • Arrival, registration, and coffee
  • Informal introductions

  09:30–10:15 – Opening Plenary: Why Regenerative Leadership, Why Now?

  • Welcome note by Deepti Panicker
  • Keynote: “From Efficiency to Regeneration in an Age of AI”  Sjoerd Kluiving and Jorge Sousa
  • Prof. Jaap van den Herik (Director, Leiden Centre of Data Science; Chairman ICAART; Prof. Computer Science, Leiden University)
  • An inspirational exploration of how we can evolve beyond traditional profit models to embrace thriving ecosystems where people, planet, and purpose are equally valued. This keynote challenges conventional business wisdom and invites reflection on what responsible growth truly means.

  10:15–11:00 – Fireside chat: Demystifying AI: from complexity to compassion

  • Adriaan Ligtenberg (Successful Venture Capitalist and entrepreneur from the Silicon Valley) Gerrit Bruggeman (Member of Board, Strategic Advisor)
  • A conversational exploration of how AI can enhance ethical decision-making and support regenerative business practices. 

  11:00–11:15 – Break in the Foyer

  11:15–12:30 – Panel Discussion 

  • Title: "Governance Meets Innovation: Building Trust Through Transparency"
  • Tim Willems (Founder, Innovator and Compliance expert)
  • Panelists Discussion: Trust and transparency in AI-driven governance and ESG systems
    • Ministry officials from Infrastructure and Justice
    • CEOs and board members from retail
    • Academic authorities on AI and regenerative leadership
  • Moderator: Prof. Jaap van den Herik 
  • Panelists: Pieter van Riemsdijk (Senior Judge, lead ODR Dutch Judiciary),
    Sudip Lahiri (Executive Vice President & Head - Europe & UKI, Financial Services, HCLTech),
    Jasper van Vliet (Chief Data Scientist at ILT - Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate)
    • Collaborative pathways between policy, business, and academia

  12:30–13:30 – Lunch and Networking

  13:30–14:30 – Interactive Tracks: Sector and Theme Deep Dives

  • Track A – Security and Trust in the Age of AI (Defence, Public Sector, Politicians)
    • Jan-Kees Buenen (CEO, Synerscope; DataSeen)
      Focus on responsible AI, governance, and trust-building in high-stakes environments; how regenerative leadership balances security, ethics, and societal impact.
    • Fred van Ommen– (Philips; Co-founder The Innovation Family)
  • Track B – Regenerative Value Chains (Retail, Supermarkets, Industry)
    • Wolfgang Lehmacher (Director, World Economic Forum, Board Member, Executive Advisor, Business Angel)
    • Focus on circular and regenerative business models, AI-enabled supply chain transparency, and measuring environmental and social regeneration as business value.

  14:30 to 14:45 – Coffee Break

  14:45 to 15:45 Panel and Dialogue: From Concept to Commitment; Innovation along the lines of Regeneration

  • Panel featuring a researcher, a C-level executive, and a public sector or political leader, moderated by a program faculty member.
  • Jorge Sousa (Systems thinking, WhatxNext)
    Itika Gupta (Carbon Studios),
    Sudip Lahiri (Executive Vice President & Head - Europe & UKI, Financial Services, HCLTech)
  • Topics: how to move from sustainability to regeneration, how to embed AI in a way that strengthens trust and legitimacy, and what leaders need in terms of skills and support to walk this path in their organizations.

  15:45 to 16:30 – Dialogue Circles 

  • Title: "The Human Side of Regeneration: Leading with Compassion"
  • Radhika Mittal (ESDiT – Ethics of socially disruptive technologies; Program Manager and Impact Lead): Building organizational cultures of care
  • Deepti Panicker (SparkBiQ): Personal transformation as leadership; Redefining profit and purpose in business and policy
  • Corina Kuiper (The Innovation Family; Managing Director & Board Member Corporate Venturing Network; Author): Measuring what matters beyond financial metrics
  • Guiding Prompt: "How can we lead regeneratively while operating within profit-oriented systems?"

  16:30–17:00 – Closing Reflection and Networking Launch

  • Guided closing reflection: each participant writes down one regenerative leadership experiment they will explore in their organization in the next 90 days.
  • Final thank-you and explicit invitation to join the first cohort, with information on follow-up conversations and application or registration processes.
  • Informal networking until 17:00, allowing trust-building conversations.

  Please register here.