The Price of Nature? The Unintended Consequences of the Business Case

As organisations seek to embed nature into their operations, strategies and purposes, many are turning to marketisation. But what are the unintended consequences of pricing the natural world?

Valuing nature through economic terms, assigning monetary worth to ecosystems and natural resources, can raise awareness of their societal importance. However, it also opens up complex questions about the potential risks and unintended outcomes of commodifying nature.

With expert speakers from academia and industry, this event will encourage practical discussions and challenge assumptions about how nature is represented and misrepresented in business.

The day includes a series of creative interactions designed to inspire fresh thinking about how nature is integrated into business operations, structures and purpose.

Whether you’re a business leader, policymaker, academic, or sustainability advocate, you’ll find a programme full of engaging discussions and practical insights.

Keynote speakers

The conference will be hosted by CSB Director, Professor Jo Meehan, followed by several keynotes by research experts and business leaders from organisations:

Professor Jo Meehan (Professor of Responsible Procurement, University of Liverpool Management School), Jo's research focuses on modern slavery in supply chains, social value in public procurement and the role of power in commercial relationships. Her work explores commercial practices that allow social inequalities and environmental harm to persist, and crucially, what might be done to enable systemic change
Kieran Maguire (Senior Lecturer, University of Liverpool Management School), a finance lecturer and media commentator, Kieran brings an accessible view on business and finance
Dave Mercer (CSB Advisory Board Member, Senior Reserve Manager Natural England), with over three decades of experience in nature conservation, Dave will share insights from managing over 5,000 hectares of diverse natural landscapes and offer his perspective on environmental protection.

Important information

Catering

During the event we will provide lunch, tea, coffee and water.

We will ask if there are any dietary requirements we should be aware of on the booking form.

We have also thought about other elements to make catering as sustainable as possible:

No paper or plastic cups/cutlery
Water dispensers
Vegan and vegetarian options only
Whole fruits that will not be wasted after the event
Guests can take any leftover food home
Feel free to bring your own food container, water bottle or cup!

Accessibility

The building is fully DDA compliant and exceeds current legislative requirements to ensure it is accessible and useable by all.

Centre for Sustainable Business Summer Conference 2025