WHEN: Thursday January 28 @ 18.00
WHERE: Bar Passion (Kauppalaispiha 3) 
WHAT: Open NIFI meeting (general discussion about what you want to see and do about business + sustainability in the region)

This meeting is open for everyone (new and old, JYU, JAMK, Team Academy, Professionals). It's time to come together and share the ideas and the experience of making it happen. What do you want out of NIFI? (knowledge? networks? business opportunities to make money?) How do you want to contribute?

If you're almost done school and don't know what to do after you graduate but want something in the sustainability field - get started with NIFI !
 
 
  A message from Net Impact Newsleter:

The 2010 Doing Good and Doing Well (DGDW) conference in Barcelona, presented in partnership with IESE's Responsible Business Club, is fast approaching. This year, Europe’s leading student-run conference on responsible business is shaping up to be the largest and most engaging in its seven-year history discussing the overall theme “From niche to mass market: taking responsible business to the next level”.

We hope you'll join us on 26 – 27 February for a packed schedule of thought-provoking speeches, dynamic panel discussions, and ample networking and career opportunities. Some highlights include:

  • Engaging keynotes, such as Zein Abdalla, CEO of PepsiCo Europe, and Michel Camdessus, former Managing Director of the IMF
  • More than 60 confirmed speakers on the most relevant topics in CSR, responsible finance, social and economic development, energy and the environment, healthcare, and responsible careers
  • The Social Entrepreneurship Workshop, which offers existing and aspiring social entrepreneurs an opportunity to discuss their ideas and challenges with peers and conference participants.
  • Career Forum with recruiters like Endeavor, Charity Bank, LGT Venture Philantrophy, the Aga Khan Agency for Microfinance, the OECD and many more
  • The Cleantech Venture Seminar, which connects cleantech industry entrepreneurs to some of the world's finest venture capitalists
  • Numerous social and networking events
There are only a few more days left to receive a 20% registration discount before the 15 January deadline. Net Impact Members receive an additional 10 Euro discount! Email conference@netimpact.org to receive the discount code.


Register today at www.dgdw.org.
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WHEN: Thursday January 14th, 2010 (morning to evening)
WHERE: Ränssin kievari (www.ranssinkievari.fi)
WHAT: "Leading Sustainable Change" an entrepreneurial workshop*
COST: 50€ (includes transport, coffee, lunch, dinner, sauna)

*This is actually only Day 2 of an international 3 day self-leadership program run by Team Academy for international agents of change (students coming from France, Spain, Netherlands, Sweden) The whole event costs 300€ - so 50€ is a pretty good deal!) They have asked Net Impact Finland and Global Venture Lab to come on board to lead this particular day and we want to invite you!

By the end of the day you should: 
...have a thorough understanding of what sustainable development means in the business context
...know the growth areas in this field
...what's greenwash? what's real? 
...expand your mindset to think global and think of BIG business opportunities!
...meet interesting new people from around Europe!

Please contact Jane Porter at jane.porter@jyu.fi if you would like to attend ASAP (by Friday 8.1) 

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NIFI SOCIAL 01/21/2010
 
WHEN: Friday December 11, 2009 @ 19.00 - ...
WHERE: Old Bricks Inn (basement!), Jyväskylä
WHAT: monthly business + sustainability networking event

We've had two really great relaxing evenings so far with inventors, entrepreneurs, business people and students from JYU, JAMK and Team Academy on topics such as starting new growth businesses with social/environmental objectives and sustainable innovation with Antti Hautamäki. If you haven't attended yet, but these topics spark some interest come out on Friday and get to know what NIFI is all about! 
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WHEN: Thursday November 12, 2009 from 13.00-21.00
WHERE: JAMK University of Applied Sciences, Jyväskylä
WHAT: interactive sustainable urban design workshop  

There still are three spots open for NIFI members to attend SEOS' Future of Sustainable Urban Living workshop! 

From this full day workshop participants can expect to understand the complex problems facing urban environments and learn how to turn them into a new product, service, and business opportunities. The challenge for participants is to create sustainable solutions for urban living that is beneficial for the society, and the environment while being economically viable, sensible and desirable. 

Workshop learning objectives focus on:  
- issues surrounding sustainability in an urban context 
- ideas on new sustainable innovations 
- insights into innovative sustainable product and service concepts that are being developed internationally  

If you're interested in participating (or for more information), please email ellen.torvi@gmail.com a short paragraph of why you want to attend. You must be a NIFI member to participate. Membership is 5€
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WHEN: Thursday November 12, 2009 from 19.00-21.00
WHERE: Hemingway’s, Jyväskylä (http://www.hemingways.fi/ravintolat/fi_FI/jyvaskyla/)
WHAT: monthly business + sustainability networking event

NIFI is having a "Sustainable Startups" pitch night for our 2nd Sustainability Series on Nov. 12 and we want all those with an idea/company to come forward and share it. If you have an idea or company that follows a sustainable business model and you'd like to pitch it - send an email asap to jane.porter@jyu.fi 

SEOS (http://seos.fi/) will be there to discuss their business model and success story, which has developed from a sustainable startup focused on sustainable innovation and design. 

Although we're not in time for the SLUSH Helsinki startup bootcamp (starting Nov 3), we're right in time for the "Be A Change" social entrepreneurship conference on Nov. 14-15 in Helsinki (www.beachange.org) -and they're anxious to have more Jyväskylä startups :) 

Join us at Hemingway's for an interactive evening on how to successfully bridge the gap between business strategy and sustainability. 
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WHEN: Thursday October 8, 2009 from 18.00-20.00
WHERE: Old Bricks Inn, Jyväskylä (http://www.oldbricksinn.fi/)
WHAT: monthly business + sustainability networking event 

Guest speaker Antti Hautamäki will be discussing and bouncing around ideas central to Sustainable Innovation - the title of his recent book (in Finnish). 

Hautamäki's conception of Sustainable Innovation coverstopics such as innovation policy, ecological sustainable development,continuous innovation, participatory innovation, global innovation,and management innovation. Accordingly, we will encourage 'continuous innovation' (collaboration, intellectual cross-fertilization) with an informal discussion afterwards. 

Check out Hautamäki's website www.sustainableinnovation.fi for more information on him and his research.
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Come find out more info about what Net Impact is about and what's happening in this region!

WHEN: Tuesday, September 22 2009 from 18.00-20.00
WHERE: Blomstedt Ravintola, Jyväskylä (www.blomstedt.fi)
DRESS: Business casual
RSVP: September 15 - email mila.hakanen@jyu.fi (space limited, must reserve!)

What are the BIG problems that humanity faces and what’s business’ role? One hour of international guest speakers from India & Canada, stimulating discussions and information on what’s already happening in your region and how you can join in.

A short introduction to Net Impact Central Finland will be presented at the event. Please bring 5€ if interested in membership.
 
 

 
WHO/WHAT ARE WE?
Net Impact Central Finland (NIFI) is a new organization dedicated to using the power of business to create a more socially and environmentally sustainable region (and world). Simply put, we believe that the world can't continue on this one way track of economic development. Business isn't just about the bottom line - it's about three bottom lines (at least):) 

As you might have guessed, we're a chapter of Net Impact, an international organization with over 10 000 MBAs & professionals. Although we're a professional chapter, our organization is for everyone & anyone interested in "sustainability + business". That means professionals, students, faculty and you (whoever you are).

WHAT'S SUSTAINABILITY & WHAT ARE WE DOING ABOUT IT?
Wrapping your head around the concept of sustainability can be challenging to  say the least. Yes, it's about ENVIRONMENT+SOCIETY+ECONOMY - but what on Earth (literally speaking) does that mean?  It's usually easy to pinpoint what's unsustainable with our world (we're overshooting the world's biological capacity by about 50%!). But, what then - does a sustainable society look like? That's really hard to answer, but that's why we've created this organization.

We want to stimulate, educate, collaborate, and take action on moving us forward to the sustainable era.

WHY HERE?
Some quick facts to get you energized:

*Finland was #1 in the world in sustainability (2005)
*Finland is #2 in the world as an innovation hot spot (2009).

This country should have plenty to say and plenty to DO for creating and growing businesses for the sustainable era, which is why we've created this organization.

But take a look around. Who are we? What do we do? What can you do?  And, of course, join in! 

Oh, and by the way, the answer to what does sustainable development look like? The answer is Cuba. (p. 21).

Cheers and hope to meet you soon!

Jane

Founder & President
Net Impact Central Finland