TNEP Mentor - Alan AtKisson

The Natural Edge Project partners with a range of international keynotes and leading actors in sustainable development to assist with the delivery of training sessions, keynote lectures and workshops.

Alan AtKisson (pictured with TNEP's Cheryl Desha) is the author of the popular 1999 book Believing Cassandra: An Optimist Looks at a Pessimist's World. The book was a bestseller on Amazon.com in the US, and has also been published in both Australian and Japanese editions. Since founding AtKisson Inc. in 1992, Alan has consulted to well over a hundred cities, companies, government agencies, civic initiatives, and non-profit organizations; and he has presented hundreds of keynote speeches, seminars, workshops and training sessions, all over the world.

Alan began his work in sustainability editing 'In Context', the pioneering journal of sustainable cultures and systems; and as co-founder of Sustainable Seattle, a civic engagement initiative which introduced a model for urban sustainability indicators and was recognized with United Nations' and local awards. He is a former Senior Fellow and Executive Director with the independent policy institute Redefining Progress. He was also a founding member of the international Consultative Group on Sustainable Development Indicators, as well as the International Sustainability Indicators Network.
As a writer, Alan publishes essays, newspaper columns, and academic papers, and he is also a professional singer and songwriter who often brings music into his speeches and workshops.

In 2006 Alan has been appointed the International Transition Director for the Earth Charter Initiative and manages the The Earth Charter Center for Strategy and Communications in Stockholm.

24 May 2004: EPA Sustainable Industries Division – Sustainability in Queensland Business, Brisbane. (Read More...)

25 May 2004: Adelaide Creating a Climate-Neutral Capital City. (Read More...)

5-6 Nov 2004: Sustainability Intensive - Tools and Methods for Accelerated Implementation, London,  in partnership with The AtKisson Group, Natural Capitalism Inc. and Imperial College London. (Read More...)

11 Feb 2005: RMIT, Getting Beyond Reporting to Strategic Outcomes, Using Sustainability Tools to Make Change Happen, Melbourne . (Read More...)

6 July 2005: The Sustainability Revolution and the Natural Advantage of Nations — An Evening with Alan AtKisson, London, hosted by our publishers Earthscan / James & James. (Read More...)

24 May 2004: EPA Sustainable Industries Division – Sustainability in Queensland Business, TNEP member Cheryl Paten was a delegate.

The aim of this event was to bring together a group of motivated and champion industry representatives (about 40 participants) for a day’s workshop session in Brisbane. All participants had a previous working history with the EPA through programs and partnerships. We would like to thank John Cole, Director of SI Division for his invitation and subsequent reinforcement of TNEP initiatives to the participants.

The day was also extremely beneficial in facilitating the sharing of experiences across industry sectors, about key projects, key obstacles and lessons learnt. The outcome of the day’s session was a list of four initiatives to be followed up by working groups, on Social Venture Development (examining opportunities to effect change through financiers/ Chief Finance Officers/ ‘purse string’ holders within organisations), the Value Chain, a simplified star rating system for industry in general, and the formation of partnership clusters within Queensland Industry. TNEP looks forward to being part of the partnership clusters discussion.

25 May 2004: Adelaide Creating a Climate-Neutral Capital City, TNEP member Nick Palousis assisted TNEP Mentor Alan AtKisson.

The workshop, facilitated by Alan, brought together 40-or-so of Adelaide’s key stakeholders for the direction of the city’s sustainable development efforts. Primarily covering his Pyramid and ISIS concepts (outlined in The Natural Advantage of Nations in Chapter 23), Alan skillfully guided the workshop participants through a collaborative process that quickly developed strong stakeholder relationships for a sustainable Adelaide. This was a truly effective workshop, with so much achieved.

The workshop was a blistering success. In some ways it was a whirlwind process – at the beginning it felt that participants were preparing themselves for “yet another” workshop, where no tangible outcomes were expected to surface. However, by the end of the workshop, agreements were made to begin work on innovative projects that would significantly contribute to sustainability performance in Adelaide. Participants seemed shocked, but happy and enthusiastic that material outcomes were coming out of the workshop – in only one day!

Alan leading Adelaide Workshop

5-6 Nov 2004: Sustainability Intensive - Tools and Methods for Accelerated Implementation, in partnership with The AtKisson Group, Natural Capitalism Inc. and Imperial College London.

Charlie Hargroves, Nick Palousis, Junko Edahiro, Alan AtKisson, Hunter Lovins, Cheryl Paten and Andrew Blaza.

The London Tour was an amazing success, a unique opportunity to bring together the presence of three world renowned professionals in sustainability in a Workshop Environment - Hunter Lovins from Natural Capitalism Solutions, Alan AtKisson from AtKisson Inc., and Junko Edihiro from Japan for Sustainability. The “London Intensive” Workshop kicked off with a well received presentation by Hunter Lovins to students, staff and professionals at London’s prestigious Imperial College, hosted by Andrew Blaza. The following 2 day Workshop, facilitated under the leadership of Alan AtKisson, applied AtKisson Inc.’s ISIS (Indicators, Systems, Innovation, Strategy) and Pyramid processes with a hypothetical scenario – the initiation of an International Society of Sustainability Professionals (ISSP).

Throughout the workshop, keynote presentations were given by Alan, Hunter, Junko and TNEP’s Charlie Hargroves, while Cheryl and Nick from TNEP provided operational support throughout the Workshop sessions. The Workshop attracted a diverse range of international participants – professionals from private, public and non-government organisations, academics and students from Australia, Canada, Germany, Greece, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, UK and the US. Participants were actively engaged throughout the workshop, learning a great deal from the sessions as well as from each other.

The TNEP team would sincerely like to thank Alan AtKisson, Hunter Lovins, and Junko Edihiro for their leadership in making the event so successful. Specific mention should be made to Andrew Blaza from Imperial College, who significantly assisted Workshop preparations and facilitation throughout the event. Finally, the participants of the workshop were a sharp, fantastic, and cohesive group, and TNEP sincerely thanks them for their contribution.

Participants in the London Intensive at the Capstone Ceremony

 

11 Feb 2005: RMIT, Getting Beyond Reporting to Strategic Outcomes, Using Sustainability Tools to Make Change Happen. TNEP member Cheryl Paten assisted TNEP Mentor Alan AtKisson.

"Beyond Sustainability Reporting to Strategic Outcomes" builds on developing the organisation-specific business case. The workshop provides insights and tools to make a practical difference within organisations - and to achieve the desired strategic outcomes in a sustainable way.

This workshop provides you with the 'What', 'Why' and 'How' of sustainability:

  * Identify the business drivers and dimensions
  * Introduce you to four practical sustainability tools
  * Develop a comprehensive organisational framework
  * Action your sustainability strategy"

Alan leading the RMIT Workshop

6 July 2005: The Sustainability Revolution and the Natural Advantage of Nations — An Evening with Alan AtKisson, hosted by our publishers Earthscan / James & James.

TNEP Education Coordinator Cheryl Paten represented the TNEP team at the Frontline Club in London to launch NAON co-hosted by AtKisson Inc and Earthscan. Cheryl provided the journalist audience with the TNEP story, after which Alan AtKisson delivered a thought-provoking speech on the need for broadscale action now that there are clear examples of how change is possible.

TNEP would like to thank AtKisson Inc very much for this generous show of support for the publication. Alan's foreword to NAON is now online and the book contains two of Alan's pieces: on the Goa project in India, and on his much sought after pyramid (multistakeholder engagement) tool.

 

Jonathan Sinclair-Wilson, Cheryl Paten and Alan AtKisson

Extract from the AtKisson Report, Issue 11:

We Launched It ... the book, that is. In London, Alan AtKisson did an event at the Frontline Club to launch The Natural Advantage of Nations for the book's publishers, Earthscan. The book has been out since January, but had not been properly introduced, as they say, to the hometown audience.

A good crowd was gathered despite the fact that most of the journalists were busy writing about the just-won Olympic bid, not knowing that they were all about to be pressed into service for war-like journalism back home the very next day.

Cheryl Paten of The Natural Edge Project - the Australian group that actually produced the book, and a member of the AtKisson Group network - was on hand to introduce it.

As for the book, it's featured on our splash page and at the book's actual editors' homepage. From either site you can cruise through to Earthscan for ordering.

Earthscan's Rob West with Cheryl Paten at the Launch