Ahead of Sip & Sustain 2026, Elliott Barry, Technical Director, ESG at Trium Environmental Consulting LLP, explains why creating space for strategic ESG discussions has never been more important.
As Technical Director, ESG at Trium Environmental Consulting LLP, Elliott Barry works with organisations navigating a wide range of environmental, sustainability and ESG challenges.
On 25 June, he will be leading a discussion on identifying ESG reporting blockages at Sip & Sustain, Shirley Parsons’ senior leadership networking event for Environmental, Sustainability and ESG professionals.
We spoke with Elliott about why he believes senior ESG leaders need better conversations and what attendees can expect from the event.
Why strategic ESG conversations matter.
While there is no shortage of sustainability conferences and environmental events, Elliott believes there are fewer opportunities for senior leaders to step back and discuss ESG from a strategic perspective.
"There's lots of sustainability conversations, there's lots of environmental conversations. This is a strategic-level ESG conversation."
According to Elliott, that’s because strategic ESG challenges are often broad, interconnected and difficult to address in isolation.
"Not a lot of them have been kind of chaired or looked at, primarily because that strategic picture is so large, it's quite a complex problem to really address."
That’s what makes Sip & Sustain different. The event has been designed to create space for senior leaders to discuss the bigger picture, share experiences and explore solutions alongside peers who are facing many of the same challenges within their own organisations.
The value of learning from others.
For Elliott, one of the biggest benefits of the event is the opportunity to bring together like-minded professionals in a collaborative environment.
"The idea is around sharing ideas, sharing challenges, and conversing around the solutions that have been identified, the possible challenges that are still in place, and how they can be overcome by cooperation."
Whether it’s ESG reporting, stakeholder engagement, data management or delivering sustainability objectives, many organisations are facing similar challenges.
By bringing senior leaders together, Sip & Sustain creates an opportunity to learn from others, gain fresh perspectives and discover practical approaches that can be applied within your own organisation.
Insights from those leading ESG change.
The evening will feature five facilitated discussion groups led by experienced ESG and sustainability professionals who are actively shaping strategy within their organisations.
Discussion leaders include:
- Bekir Andrews – Nature-Related Risks: The Emerging Challenge Businesses Can’t Ignore
- Amelia Woodley – Influencing the Boardroom: How to Effectively Communicate with the C-Suite
- John Davies – Commercialising ESG: Creating Business Value Through Sustainability
- Houssam Ben Mansour – Driving Meaningful Carbon Reduction: Turning Ambition into Action
- Elliott Barry, Technical Director – ESG, Trium Environmental Consulting LLP – Identifying ESG Reporting Blockages
According to Elliott, attendees will have the opportunity to engage directly with professionals who are dealing with these topics every day.
Removing the barriers to ESG progress.
Elliott’s own discussion will focus on what he describes as the “plumbing” of ESG – identifying the factors that can prevent organisations from making meaningful progress.
Many organisations excel in one area of ESG while finding another more challenging. Often, the barriers are not a lack of ambition, but a lack of connectivity between data, reporting, policies and people.
The session will explore how organisations can identify these limiting factors, better understand the good work already taking place, and create a more connected approach to ESG performance.
Join the conversation.
Sip & Sustain will take place on Thursday 16 July 2026 at Trium Environmental Consulting LLP’s headquarters in Waterloo, London, from 6:00pm – 8:00pm.
Following the facilitated discussions, attendees will have the opportunity to continue conversations through informal networking over drinks and refreshments.
Attendance is free, but places are limited to 60 attendees to ensure a high-quality and engaging experience.
