Consumers, retailers and technology:
New partnerships to build trust in science
Mike Barry,
Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, Marks & Spencer
Tuesday 18 October 2005, 6.00pm
The Royal Society, 7 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5AG
Consumer and societal confidence in science appears to be at a low ebb after a succession of food, medical and financial scares. Mike will look at how better linkages between scientists, regulators, retailers and consumers can help re-build confidence in science and its application in the UK. He will look at how trust is becoming as important as the technology itself in deciding whether R&D succeeds in the future. He will use case studies involving chemicals and RFID to explore new approaches to building confidence in science from laboratory to marketplace.
Mike Barry is Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at the UK retailer Marks & Spencer. He is responsible for co-ordinating the company's journey towards a more sustainable business model. He provides the vision and the energy to affect change and ensure a leading but efficient approach to sustainability across the company.
He deals with issues as diverse as sustainable fish sourcing, chemicals in products, labour standards in factories, animal welfare, food miles, privacy and data protection, genetic modification, fair trade, wood sourcing, community investment, cotton sourcing and climate change. His working life is broadly divided into three parts. Listening to and prioritising stakeholder expectations of Marks and Spencer, integrating them into corporate strategy and working with shops, business units and suppliers to deliver more sustainable products and wider business activity.
Prior to joining Marks and Spencer, he worked as an environment manager in the engineering sector and as an environmental consultant. He is a chemistry graduate from Sheffield University . Currently he is:
- Chair of the England Biodiversity Strategy - Business Group
- Co-chair of the British Retail Consortium (BRC)/Chemical Industries Association (CIA) Supply Chain Leadership Group
- The retail representative on the UK Government's Chemical Stakeholder Forum
- The retail representative on the Invest in Fish - South West Project
Further information
Meetings are open to members and non-members. Members receive benefits including discounted meeting fees on all R&D Society events, access to the members area of the website, and the newsletter.
Meetings of the R&D Society are accepted by many professional institutions as suitable for their CPD requirements.
To receive future meeting notices by email, please sign up to our monthly email updates.