Making Sustainability Practical

About the speaker

Robin Sundaram

Robin Sundaram is a sustainability advisor, facilitator and capability builder who helps organisations turn sustainability ambition into practical, commercially credible action.

He spent 30 years at Nestlé UK & Ireland, working across commercial, customer, supply chain, procurement, responsible sourcing, sustainability and community regeneration roles. His work included farmer engagement, regenerative agriculture, modern slavery, social procurement and community impact, as well as leading Nestlé’s long-running Farm to Fork training programme for around 20 years.

A consistent thread through Robin’s work has been helping people build confidence, judgement and opportunity. At Nestlé UK, he was the main sponsor of the One World Network and has mentored many people both inside and outside the business. This commitment to supporting the next generation is one of the main reasons he continues to lecture and work with universities: helping students and early-career professionals understand how sustainability, business and social impact connect in practice.

Robin lectures annually at UCL and holds the Harvard Bok Higher Education Teaching Certificate. His approach is grounded in real-world practice, using examples from business, supply chains and communities to help people understand the decisions that sit behind meaningful change.

Robin also has a long connection with York. During his time at Nestlé, he was closely involved in York-based community and place programmes, including Pride of Place, and has worked with York partners over many years on how businesses can contribute meaningfully to local communities while strengthening skills, resilience, reputation and long-term value.
Through Future Libra, Robin now works with businesses, universities and industry partners to build practical sustainability and supply chain capability.