HIGH-profile speakers including Adnams managing director Andy Wood and National Energy Federation chairman Dr Mary Archer will be among the line-up at the East of England Development Agency's annual meeting next month.

HIGH-profile speakers including Adnams managing director Andy Wood and National Energy Federation chairman Dr Mary Archer will be among the line-up at the East of England Development Agency's annual meeting next month.

The theme of this year's meeting - to be held at Tattersalls in Newmarket on Tuesday, September 9, starting at 4.30pm - will be “growth in a low-carbon economy”.

With Southwold brewer Adnams having recently launched the UK's first carbon-neutral beer, East Green, and been awarded the coveted Business in the Community's Eco-Efficiency Award for Excellence, Andy Wood has been invited to deliver the keynote speech.

He will talk about how the the company has sharpened its competitive cutting-edge by lowering operating costs in its new “ultra-green” distribution centre, which has also substantially cut carbon emissions.

Dr Archer is currently working with EEDA as a judge for the agency's Cut your Carbon competition, which has made £2.5 million available over the next three years to fund communities who have found innovative and inspiring ways to cut carbon emissions.

The potential social impacts of climate change are well publicised, and with the East of England's low-lying geography, the region is particularly vulnerable to the threats.

However, beyond the issues of social responsibility, there are also huge business opportunities from “going green”. It is predicted, for example, that the environmental goods and services sector could grow by up to 45% by 2015.

Advantages can also be gained outside the environmental sector. A commitment to reduce carbon in any organisation can lead to savings that will affect the bottom line, and EEDA's annual meeting will provide delegates with the opportunity to explore some of this potential.

The meeting will also provide delegates with a chance to ask questions of EEDA's chairman, Richard Ellis, and new chief executive, Deborah Cadman, and to hear more about EEDA's work throughout the region.

To register to attend, visit www.eeda.org.uk. The registration deadline is Friday, 22 August 22.